Representatives from the United States and Iran are expected to meet in Switzerland on Friday to present an agreement that would end the United States and Israel’s war on Iran and begin the next phase of negotiations.
On Wednesday, the United States and Iran signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding that sets out the framework for negotiations during a 60-day negotiation period.
Here’s what we know so far about what’s happening in Switzerland.
Where will the ceremony take place?
The ceremony and subsequent talks will be held at the Burgenstock resort in Stanstadt, near Lucerne in central Switzerland.
The facility is owned by Katara Hospitality, part of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, which helped broker peace in the conflict.
“One of the advantages is the location. It’s on top of a mountain, so you have security. You can also control access. I’ve covered quite a few diplomatic events in Switzerland over the years, and diplomacy is different when you’re exposed to the prying eyes of the media and 24/7 reporting,” James Bayes, Al Jazeera’s foreign affairs editor, said in an interview from Burgenstock.
“I remember the early talks on Iran in 2013 at the InterContinental Hotel in central Geneva.
“Back then, reporters would sit in coffee shops all day and buy coffee, just to distract people from coming in to find out what was going on. That’s not happening this time.”
Also reporting from Burgenstock on Thursday, Al Jazeera correspondent Osama bin Javaid said: “I’ve seen helicopters going up and down, military and Swiss police patrolling. There needs to be a high level of security, and that’s what’s being provided. And that’s why it’s going to be interesting to see who actually succeeds, how deep the talks start and what happens in the next day.”
“This is not just a ceremonial signing ceremony, as the document has already been signed. This is the formal kickoff of the 59 days left for both sides to reach a conclusion.”
The same venue will host the International Peace Summit on Ukraine in 2024, a two-day summit attended by about 100 delegates from various countries and aimed at developing a plan to end the war. The meeting was attended by then-U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and diplomats from many other countries.
Although the majority of participants signed a short communiqué issued at the end of the summit, several major countries did not. Several major Global South countries cited Russia’s absence or Israel’s presence as reasons for not accepting the communiqué.
Who is going to Switzerland on Friday?
Details of who would attend have not been made public, and there was growing uncertainty on Thursday as to whether any senior officials would attend at all.
Until yesterday, a formal signing ceremony was scheduled for Friday between US Vice President J.D. Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
However, as the signing has already taken place, it is understood that negotiations on the next stage of the deal will begin on Friday, possibly after a small ceremony to mark it.
“Currently, plans remain for the United States, Iran, mediators Pakistan and Qatar, and other interested countries to meet tomorrow in Burgenstock for initial negotiations on the implementation of the agreement,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
But also on Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif canceled his visit to Switzerland, his spokesperson told AFP news agency.
“The proposed visit has been postponed as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has already been electronically signed, entered into force and is currently being implemented,” Spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said, adding that Pakistan would support the next phase of several “technical level” initiatives.
As a result, the entire event is expected to be downgraded, Al Jazeera’s Bayes said.
“If Pakistan’s prime minister does not come, there will be issues of diplomatic protocol. There will not be people of similar stature. When this type of diplomatic event is held, it will definitely lower the grade because everyone has to be at the same level.”
“That’s kind of a cardinal rule of international diplomacy. So it’s unlikely that we’re going to meet J.D. Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf here right now. Some Pakistani media are saying we’re going to proceed to technical talks.”
Vance told U.S. media on Thursday that he planned to travel to Switzerland for talks, but he didn’t know when.
What is the agreement about?
The United States on Wednesday revealed details of a 14-point memorandum of understanding it reached with Iran.
Neither has released a physical copy, but U.S. officials read the documents on a call with reporters Wednesday. Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed the U.S. version of the document.
US officials said that in addition to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, the US would also immediately grant sanctions relief to Iran’s fossil fuel sector.
Both sides stressed that this initial deal is just the starting point for 60 days of talks on deeper issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, support for regional proxies and how the Strait of Hormuz will be managed in the future.
